Sphygmomanometer



C. CICURTIS SPHYGMOMANOMETER Sept. 30, 1952 Filed July 9, 1947 'lNvsNToRCEclL CLAuo CUR-ras ATToRNaw/s,

Patented Sept. 30, 1952 UNITED' STATES -lafrriirlr` oFFic-E Y'2,612,156' v v" -sPHYGMoMANoMErER vdecil claus Curtis, Washington, n.c.

Application Ju'lyl, 1947, Serial No. 752,792

`plication and operation -of thedevice with -assurance 4of accuracy inresult.

The 'preferred embodiment vof the invention embodies a handle or bodyportion comprising telescoping members `nested by a suitable spring,

the tension of which may be adjusted, the-'members having two operative`features suitably indexed 'to' denote pressures derived from theiorcerequired to distend the spring in Iforcing the ltelescopic membersapart, the outer lend of 'the device conveniently having means ltofacilitate the gripping thereof in the hand pull thereof, and the innerend of the device being associated with viiband .adapted to encircle'the `Wrist of a person and be drawn into compressing relationship :tothe radial branch lof the bra'chial artery.

, itt will be appreciated by persons .skilled 4in the.

ark-physicians and 'nurses-'that .in finding ones blood [pressure theartery will be compressed by a pull on the instrument suici'ent to causethe encircling band on the wrist'to stop the blood flow/j ascertained4by the feel of the pulse by va iinger ofthe free hand of 'the operatorofthe device. v

The lpreferred .embodiment of the invention will sclaims. (c1.12s-2.05)y

Figure '4 is asimilar :sectional view 'takennn .a diierent line itatright angles toFigure i3)- `5Figure5is aside viervofthe inner member .oithe telescopingv members. 1

Vliigure 6 'is fa transverse sectionalfvi'ew on the line '6--6 4ofFigure '4. v .Y

Figure 7 is a similar viewwon 'the line s1;-'1 foi Figure 4. C

Figure Sis a likeview on the line 8-8 4of Figure '-3. -1 l Figures-9,110 and Il are plan uviews of details. "Figure '123s a separateillustration foi a'fsornewhat modiiied lform of clip.

'Referring :more vspecifically vbo the -drawings wherein like referencecharacters 'designate the same parts in the several views, l5 and |16are respectivelyouter and rinner tubular 4members or barrel-s adapted to'have telescopic relationship, the inner barrel when lnot 'in' use beingnested quite entirely within the outer barrel and there held by 'anormally contracting ceiled springy flil,

v attachedat Vone end l-to the lin-ibular member -|-6 be illustrated. inthe accompanying drawings and the construction and arrangement of thevarious details will be apparent from the specic description.hereinafter contained when read in connection with said drawings.

With a full understanding of the construction it will be .seen that inaddition to the essentially novel characteristic of the invention,residing in the .encircling band associated with 'the pull and tensioninstrumentalities, other novel vfeatures of construction will appear.

In thedrawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the device in coml pletely closed position.

Figure 2 is a similar View with the parts in extended or operatingstate.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view.

near the outer endofthe latter, 'and at the .other end attached to the4outer end ofthe tube or 'barrel I5. The connections @are formed in thismanner:

The spring :H hasits-convolutions in contact or very-closely relatedwhen not expanded, and in the lower end of this spring a threaded Vcapi8 is inserted, the' threads of ywhich cap vrsubstantially conform "tothe ceiling Vof the 'spring and being of a 'substantial length to*prevent separation'of the cap fromthe spring, yalthough it may beotherwise fastened, 'if desired. .This cap i8 has a threaded' bore vl 9.throughwhich passes the adjusting screw 2U', having acomplementarythread 21, the'jscrew passingthroughan opening 22 throughthe end cap 23 of. the "tubular member I5 to the exterior of said capand. having a screw 'head '24 fitted in and bearing against the saidcapwhereby on operating the .screw Athe spring l1 may be adjustedineither direction as found expedient, to regulate the spring.

'The spring Apasses freely through the opening 25., in the end of' the.inner tubular .member or barrel .'Ilijand has the upperv end 26 thereofpassed through .and secured in an aperture 21 .in a plate portion 28.disposed within the member T6 and .held in fixed position therein byacross pin 29,.

30 isgthe cap orelosure for the .end .of the tubular member .I 6, thecap being secured in position through the .medium ofinwardly lturnedelongated anges 3] and .32 conforming to `and tting lsnugly within the.cur-ved ler cylindrical wall .of the member I6 and held therein not`only bythe pin 29 heretofore referred to, but also by a similar pin 33passing through the wall of the member I6, and the iianges 3I and 32,and bridging the space between said flanges to support a rotatabletubular shaft or reel 34, to which latter' are secured the` ends of atape or loop 35 constituting a wristbandadapted to encircle the wrist ofa patient in compressing the artery thereof, as hereinbefore suggested.vy

The band or loop 35 may be of suitable material that will not undnlystretch, for instance fine, strong linen or silk tape. The inner ends ofthe band or loop are fastened to the reel 34 and the to overlie oneanother when the same are Wound upon the reel 34. The opposite' portionsof the sides of the loop, when the latter isvextended fory operation,are respectively guided through 1 the reel, is secured at one end to thereel and anchored at its opposite end to the adjacent memb'erI6 of. thecasing to vexert a constant winding tendency on the reel and bandsuncient to assist in winding up the band or loop when -not in serviceand toV hold the band against loose play 'or outward displacement savewhen intended to be manually withdrawn. Y

Toaiord better assurance of a firm grip on the device when in use, thatwhen the band .or tape 35 isvaround the wrist of a patient, and

the handleis to be pulled therefrom against the holding tension of thespring I1, provision is made toprevent a slippage of the hand, the samecomprising a pair of pivoted abutments 36,',contoured in keeping withtheshape of the end of the memberI5, and adapted tofold into slots.

to be flush with the exterior surface thereof, but

,being readily swung outwardly under engagement of a ngernail with therespective ends 31 of the abutments to contact a stop shoulder 38 on they member I5. A hand in gripping the instrument,

and contacting with one or both of these abutments, will be firmlyretained in operative association with the instrument. The springs 36a,as

shown, constitute practical .andV efficient means for holding theabutments in closed position when out of service.

39 'is a pin extending 'inwardly from'the barrel I5 through a slot l40in the barrel I6 so that these members I5 and I6 vwill always' beprevented from turning relative to eachother and will be maintained inproper condition for registering,

as now to be pointed out.

Along the surface of the barrel'II-'there is a plurality of stops 4I,bearing indicia 42 to represent corresponding degrees of pressure',andwith these stops a catch or dog 43 is adapted to auto- Vmaticallyengage` in successive fashion as the barrel'l is withdrawn fromthebarrelI5. The

lcatch or dog is pivoted at 44 and is helddown by the end V45 of aspring clip 46 pressing on the en d'rof the dogr at one of its ends andon the barrel I5 at its end 47. The spring has a double function,namely, to releasably hold the dog place; and also to serve as a clip toengagel the vest pocket after vthe fashionl of the well-known fountainpen clip.

4 As the tape or band 35 encircling the wrist is forcibly drawn tocollapse the artery and correl spondingly stop the flow therethrough,and the CJI opposite sides or portions of the loop are adapted member-vI5, and the intermediate portion of the spring 46 being normally spacedfrom said barrel.

' Torelease the vdog from the stop momentarily engaged thereby and topermit the other projected stops and member I5 to be retracted into themember I5, all that is necessary is for the operator to press his thumbagainst the spaced intermediate portion of the spring 46, which Willcausethe outer end thereof to rise and coincidently rvelevate the dog 43away from thel irnmediate stop -engaged thereby, and out of vthe path ofreturning movement of all other projected stops, so that the spring I1will completely retract and nest the barrel I6 within the barrel I5.

The reel 34 is provided with a knurled or equivalent rewinding wheel 49,fast with thereel, and

arranged whereby to project With its marginal portion through a slot 50in the member I8, accessible to the thumb of the user for manualopjeration, when necessary or preferred. The com- At times, wherelessskillful operators may be using the device, and it is desired to insurecontact ofthe rloop or band 35 in the most direct and positivepositionrelative to the artery itis intended to compress, rather thanhave the tape orband, constituting said loop, pull againstY a morerigidror bony part of the wrist, theopposite portions of the band ortape may be passed lthrough narrow frictionally engaging slitsl 53 l.of

a metallic or equivalent strip or button 54 where- ,by the button 54 maybe slid along the opposite portions of the loop to secure a close t ofthe loop around the wrist thereby maintaining the effective or directpressure portion of the loop in line with the handle portion or body ofthe instrument. Also, this strip vor button54 may at times be shifted tothe extreme outer end of the loop 35 and there utilized to constitute adirect and positive pressure medium, more rigid than the fabric of theloop,` for functioning as a presser button or the like, engageable overthe artery, found desirable in some instances dependent upon thecondition of the artery itself.

In the modied form of Vdog and clip illustrated in Figure 12, it will beseen that instead of having the dog and spring clipA of independent orseparate members they are, in this instance, formed ofla single piece ofspring metal, one end thereof 55, being shaped to constitute the dog andthe other end 56 being integral with the samefto constitute the clip. Inthis instance, thejclip end is curved or rounded to bear against thebarrel. The portion of the device, that is, between the dog and theclip, is bent to constitute an eye or bearing 5'! to surrounda"complemental pivotonthe barrel (of the type illustrated in Figure-3)and t0 be confined between the pivot and barrel. In

this instance, as heretofore, the pressure of the It will be seen that aspring 53 is sleeved upon the adjusting screw 2l to exert a suicientpressure between the head of the screw I8 and the inner end of the cap23 for the purpose of further insuring against any tendency of the screwI8 or the screw 2| to loosen or turn, especially when v the spring Il isin its maximum state of contraction.

The mode of operation of this invention is as follows:

On preparing to take the systolic blood pressure of a patient theabutments 36 are first swung to a position at right angles to the bodyof the instrument, which will cause the respective ends 31 of theabutments to engage the bottom wall or stop 3B of the slots formed inthe cap 23, acting to brace and steady these abutments. Having placedthe abutments in operative position the tape or loop 35 is withdrawnfrom the reel 34 and placed around a wrist of the patient, having theinner surface of the outer end of the tape or loop in position to havecompressing relationship to the radial branch of the brachial artery.The operator now grasps the instrument in his hand, with the abutmentsin engagement therewith, while with the first two fingers of his otherhand he palpates the radial artery of the patient, the thumb of thishand being placed on the posterior surface of the wristl joint as abrace, when a pull of the hand -holding the instrument is exerted on theinstrument to cause the tapev to compress the radial artery. Applyingpressure in this manner until the palpitations of the radial artery canno longer be felt a reading of the degree of systolic pressure can behad on reference to the indicia 42 of the barrel It, due to the relativemovement of barrels When the instrument is no longer needed theabutments are swung back into the receiving slots and the tape or loopis rewound on the reel 34, by the action of the spring 34'. In ltheevent that the spring fails to rewind the tape as desired, manual meansis provided in the form of a knurled wheel 49 by which the reel 34 maybe rotated.

While in this specification reference has been made to the ascertainmentof the systolic blood pressure, it is to be understood that personsskilled in the art to which the invention relates will instantlyappreciate that, in the use o'f the device disclosed, the same embracesthe function of also easily ascertaining diastolic pressure. To thatend, all that is necessary is for the user to initially ascertain thehigh point of blood pressure through the compression of the artery, and

I5 and Hi.v

particularly illustratedherein, without departing vfron'rfthe spirit ofthe inventionas maybe defined in-thev ap'pendedfcl'aims, as vforinstanceyinthe broad aspect of the-invention, a iiuidf'pressureinstrumentality might'fbe substituted' for spring as the. pull-resistingmeans. I

,Icmimz y ,Y 4Intl-a sphygmomanometer a handlerportion yhaving'springlresistedmovable indicating means, and a 'flexible loopf operativelyassociated therewithfiadaptedto encircle a wrist 4over amartery thereinwhereby `to compress the same when'pull isexerted on the loop againstthe force of the spring resistednmovable indicating means, incombination with a winding-element in the handle for thezloopwhenretracted, having a knurled wheel with an exposed engageable portionfor manipulation Aexteriorly of the handle.

2. In a sphygmomanometer a handle portion having spring resisted movableindicating means, and a flexible loop operatively associated therewithadapted to encircle a wrist over an artery. therein whereby to compressthe same when pull is exerted on the loop against the force 0f thespring resisted movable indicating means, in combination with anabutment for a hand engaging the handle and pulling on the loop mountedto project laterally of the handle or to be closed into'nested relationwith the handle.

3. In a sphygmomanometer a handle portion having spring resistedmovableindicatlng means,

and a flexible loop operatively associated therewith adapted toencircleja wrist over anv artery therein whereby to compress the samewhen pull is exerted on the loop against the force of the springlresisted movable indicating means, ink

combination with abutments for a hand engaging the handle and pulling onthe loop mounted to project laterally of the handle or to be closed intonested relation with the handle, and spring means associated with theabutments to maintain them in closed position relative to the handle.

4. In a sphygmomanometer a handle portion having spring resisted movableindicating means, and a flexible loop operatively associated therewithadapted to encircle a wrist over an artery therein whereby to compressthe same when pull is exerted on the loop against the force of thespring resisted movable indicating means, the

then, while the instrument is still held under handle comprisingtelescoping members the inner of which is provided with a series ofstops and associated indicia and the other provided with a dog to engagesaid stops as the members move apart, and a pin and slot engagementbetween the inner and outer members permitting longitudinal movementthereof but preventing relative rotation of the same so as to keep thestops and dog in aligned operative position.

5. In a sphygmomanometer a handle portion having spring resisted movableindicating means, and a flexible loop operatively associated therewithadapted to encircle a wrist over an artery therein whereby to compressthe same when pull `is exerted on the loop against the force of thespring resisted movable indicating means, in combination with anabutment for a hand engaging the handle and pulling on the loop mountedto project laterally of the handle or to be closed :7 :of Ylimp.'fomnhaving-fendgportons iconnected dao 1said..movable indicator,7said. ftape lueingl adapted stoenorclefaf-.wrstiovenanfartery',thereinwhereby arelative to @the handlefwhenlzpullissexertedfon-the handle, in combination therewith .of :a button havingslots therein to receive the end portions of l:sad'ftapie` fandfiwherenisaid @button :isz adapted to .slide fomsaiditape tregulate:thefsize.ot-saidrloop. 'said .fbuttonfinrits rexbremefoutermost'position :on 'saidz :tape constituting Aa, presserfelementj forapplicato'ndirectlyoVerfanartery.

. V.REEERENil-ms1 Cim-1211227 l i' whe EfolIoWi-ng references ame fofmedor the .lie .off-this pa'atent: f j A* v v

